, 1887-05-12
Further Particulars Of the Ma
naimO Mine Explosion.
Every Miner in the Mine at the
Time Of the Accident Dead.
A Case that Calls for the Charity
Of the Coast.

VICTORIA, Il. c., May 6.--Thc wires
went down yesterday between British
Columbia and tho south. Last nights
kilograms from the Colonist's Nanai-
mo correspondent states that the last
investigation shows that 1O1 whitemcn
we're in the mine at the time of the ex-
plosion and seventy-fve Chinese. At
2 O'Clock the body of Michael Lyons
was found in level No. 1, seventy-five
yards from the hosting shaft. He is
the mule driver, about eighteen years
old, and was found at his station near
dead mule, supposed his hand is
quite near, but it was impossible to
reach him owing to gas. Lyons was
taken TO the school house where he
lies terribly burned about the face and
breast. His face is black from gas.
His father is in the mine. A cave in
evidently occurred just beyond where
no was lying.
The action of the Victoria city coun-
Gil in appropriating $1,000 to aid in
the rescue of miners is heartily appre-
ciated here. After the strictest inquiry
learn there are forty-seven widows,
most of whom have large families.
The funeral OF VIM. Davis took place
at 4 o'clock from his late residence on
Wallace street. That of VIM. Leicher-
ane (Craven) from the Half Way house
at o'clock. The funerals OF Jno.
Linn, Jno. Smith and Fred
Mathison take place tomorrow.
at 3 o'clock under the auspices of the
/. o. o. F; that of Samuel Hudson at
l o'clock under the auspices Of the l.
o. o. +. A coroner's jury viewed the
bodies this afternoon and the inquest
adjourned till l o'clock Tuesday.
Hon. Jno. Robson, manager of the
mines, is at present directing matters
and arranging for the inquest The
shift that came up at o'clock report
no movement under the ground. 1t
is believed the fire will soon be totally
extinguished and it is confidently ex-
pected that the shift that comes up at
midnight will bring the bodies. To-
morrow's scenes promise to be terri.
bic. Coal smoke continues to issue
from the air shaft and tonight, famed
by breeze, it seems quite heavy.
Arrangements for changing shifts are
now projected, six hours being allowed
to each The east Wellington mine
has not been working to-day and the
Wellington miners go on the night
shift, none but picked men being
chosen for that work. In conversa-
ton with one of the night shift, he
said good progress is being made on
the pumps, the men there standing in
three and four feet of water. China
men met tonight and made arrange
ments for burying their countrymen,
some refused this morning to place the
dead in cofiins and had to be compelled
by force to do so. Young
Lyons was general favorite,
and many tears fell from
strong men when they
gszed upon his ghastly features. A
sight of his bruised and battered body
is one long to be remembered, but this
is only prelude to what is coming.
Many homes are completely broken
up and the city is in sack cloth and
ashes. The stores still continue to be
closed and little business is being
done. Flags are at half mast. All
hopes of saving the men now in the
mine are abandoned. 1t is absolutely
impossible that any have survived.
Most of the men are from Cornwall,
Yorkshire and Wales, and few from
Nova Scotia. A complete list OF these
will he sent tomorrow, If possible.
II is difficult work to secure informa-
ton. Towards night fall u crowd of
people who had been lowering around
the shaft retired completely fatigued.
They had Mt last succumbed to nature.
A few, however, who had loved ones in
the mine took no sleep last night and
al wore haggard locks this morning.
Entrance to the main shaft is being
fenced in, in order to prevent rush
when the bodies are being brought up.
When Lyons body was taken up the
crowd surgcd forward interfering with
the progress of the work, hence this
action. The fearful character of the
explosion cannot be exaggerated and
it appeals to the sympathy and charity
ot the citizens throughout the world.
Over l30 children, orphaned, have al
ready been counted.
I0p. m.-At9 o'clock tonight no fur
ther developments have taken place
and quiet reigned around the shaft 4
heavy rain set in and people retired
W tilt eitllcI VI lIclI Hollcs' I'S-
ress in subduing the flames is proceed
ing rapidly and it is thought all dan
ger Of a second explosion is now over.
They hope to have all clear by 6
O'Clock when the day shift goes down.
FRIDAY, 130 p. m.-No further news
from the disaster.
PORTLAND, Oregon, May Ga spec
ial from Nanaimo, b. c., says AT 3
p. M, an exploring party that went
down this morning broke through into
the mine and discovered the dead ly-
ing in all directions. All hope is Civ
en- up. Thirtyfve bodies were rocov-
cred from the mine this morning. The
fire is still burning but under control.
The mine is owned by the Vancouver
CoaI 90 of London ENGLAND